Activities help kids warm up to spring

After the long winter months, there’s nothing like seeing and smelling fresh, green plants peeking out from the earth. Create that feeling indoors to get a jump on spring with these easy and gratifying “grow green” sprouting activities.

For each growing activity, you’ll need wheat berry or rye grass seeds. Wheat berry seeds cost only pennies, and are available in bulk in natural food stores and some supermarkets.

Grass in glass

Find a simple, clear wide vase or jar. Scoop potting soil into the container to a depth of about 2 inches. Sprinkle the seeds on the soil. Add enough water to moisten both the soil and seeds. Loosely cover with plastic wrap until seeds sprout in three to four days, then remove the plastic wrap.

Place in a sunny window and watch both the roots and green grass grow each day.

Growin’ green

With scissors, cut a new kitchen sponge into the shape of a shamrock. Soak the sponge in water and set it on a plastic tray or pie tin. Generously sprinkle the sponge with seeds all over the shape. Add water to the pan, loosely cover with plastic wrap until the seeds begin to sprout, and then remove the plastic.

Once the seeds begin to grow, place the “shamrock” in a sunny area. Within a few days, the growing seeds will transform a plain sponge into a beautiful giant green “shamrock.” Keep the sponge moist – a perfect watering activity for young gardeners.

Saucer village

Kids can design their own mini village while nature takes care of the plant life. Fill a 10-inch flowerpot drainage saucer with potting soil. Sprinkle the seeds on the soil, lightly spray with water until soil is damp, not soggy.

Loosely cover with plastic wrap until seeds sprout. Remove plastic wrap, and place tray near a sunny window.

Your children can create a village setting by placing cute objects in the grass: miniature toys, trees made from twigs, tiny flowers from tissue paper, and figures molded from clay.